Why Rajasthan charges 'cow cess' on liquor
A restaurant bill from Rajasthan is making waves online for including a 20% "cow cess" on liquor.
The tax showed up on a recent bill at Geoffrey's bar (dated September 30), where six beers and some corn fritters ended up costing ₹3,262 after all the taxes were added in.
The main reason behind this extra charge? For the protection and conservation of cows, including support for cow shelters—a policy that's been around since 2018.
Controversy around the tax
Rajasthan's Finance Secretary Kumar Pal Gautam explained that this cess gets added to liquor sold above MRP under state tax rules.
Hotel manager Nikhil Prem said it directly supports cow conservation efforts and has been part of the bill for years now.
Not everyone is convinced though—while some people online question if it really helps with stray cattle issues, others think it's a fair way to raise funds for animal welfare.
Similar taxes exist in states like Haryana too, so it's clearly an ongoing conversation across India.